Metcalf 200 yards range question

[bigbearbear]

My colleague and I are thinking of going to Metcalf and trying out their 200 yards range, I want to see if anyone has been there or routinely shoots at 200 yards, and have some recommendations for me.

I'm using a Windham Weaponry AR-15, 16" barrel chambered for 5.56mm, but I usually use cheap .223rem reloads with 55grn bullets from Freedom Munitions. It has a Mueller Speedshot 1-4x red dot scope (its an odd red-dot/scope combo) on it. The Mueller speed shot is zeroed for 50 yards currently.

I have shooting bags and brass trap from Caldwell, also a cheap Barska spotting scope (1-60x power) which works well at 100 yards.

All my shooting with this setup has been at Los Altos 50yards or 100 yards lanes. Should I just go with the same setup or change out something? Bring ammo with heavier bullets or just stick with the 55grn ones? Get a better spotting scope?

I should also state that I'm not a bench rest shooter trying to get as small a group as possible. Just want to see how well I can shoot at 200 yards and if I can even land the bullet on the target. Let's call it minute-of-man accuracy attempt and self marksmanship check.

Thanks.

[DarkSoul]

I shoot on the 200 quite often, and all your gear is fine. You can certainly try heavier bullets, but whether or not they shoot better will depend on the twist rate. But chances are you will be fine.

[lastinline]

I don't shoot at that facility, but do a fair bit of shooting at that distance (200) and beyond. I zero all my rifles for that distance, you should have no problems with your setup.
After you zero at 200 yards, anything inside of that will be easy, and you will find that hits on 10" round plates at 300 yards when held towards the top of the plate will be routine.
Get a copy of Cooper's book, the Art of the Rifle, and learn how to properly use field shooting positions and techniques. After some good practice, in time you will be shooting better than 90% of most folks you see at ranges.
Have fun!

[bigbearbear]

Thanks for the info guys, appreciate it. My AR-15 barrel has a 1:9 twist rate, at 100 yards it seems pretty accurate even with bulk .223rem 55grn ammo. I'll see how they do at 200 yards.

[essjay]

All I want to know is why the hell the 200-yard ranges at Metcalf and Chabot have such crappy hours. Not easy to get to if you have a weekday job and commute, or can't free up the fourth Sunday of the month...

[bazineta]

Be sure you're aware of the specific times that the 200 yard range is open, see the hours here: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/p...orts-Park.aspx

[bigbearbear]

All I want to know is why the hell the 200-yard ranges at Metcalf and Chabot have such crappy hours. Not easy to get to if you have a weekday job and commute, or can't free up the fourth Sunday of the month...

Be sure you're aware of the specific times that the 200 yard range is open, see the hours here: https://www.sccgov.org/sites/parks/p...orts-Park.aspx

Yeah! Their hours are inconvenient, and unfortunately its the closest place available in the bay area if you want to shoot at that distance.

My colleague and I work from home, that's the only way we can reach that place on Thur in time to shoot. And we want to do it before it starts getting dark early.

They did state on their web site that it is available with special arrangement, perhaps a good to organize a regular Calguns.net shooting event on that range so that it'll stay open more often?

[iCalvin]

Shooting at 200 yards should be pretty easy with an AR. Supposably a 50 yard zero is almost the same as a 200 yard zero. I have shot standing off irons at 400 yards with relatively good accuracy on a 14"x20" target using steel cased 55 gr wolf ammo out a 1-8 and 1-7 twist. It was my first time ever shooting at a distance standing as I am more of a prone/bench shooter. Just follow basic fundamentals and you should do fine, my buddy was also hitting at 400 yards on a 8x8 target consistently with just the hand guard supported also using cheap wolf ammo on a frankenbuild AR. He has never shot anything past 50 yards prior.

I have never personally been to a public range in my years of shooting since I have access to a private range and land but have considered going to Metcalf Range when I go up to visit my sister in Santa Clara, but something about going to a public range alone has always been iffy to me.

[SonofWWIIDI]

Yeah! Their hours are inconvenient, and unfortunately its the closest place available in the bay area if you want to shoot at that distance.

My colleague and I work from home, that's the only way we can reach that place on Thur in time to shoot. And we want to do it before it starts getting dark early.

They did state on their web site that it is available with special arrangement, perhaps a good to organize a regular Calguns.net shooting event on that range so that it'll stay open more often?

Let me know when you're gonna go. If I'm not working, I'd really like to join you. And I can bring my own toys.